Ganghwa-gun has won the top award in the local-government content category at the Korea International Travel Show, the nation’s largest tourism exhibition. Following last year’s Excellence Award, it marks a second consecutive year of recognition, once again affirming the county’s ‘stay-and-experience tourism’ strategy that weaves together its natural, historical and cultural assets.
 [코리안투데이] 강화군 대한민국 국제관광박람회 콘텐츠 부문 최우수상 쾌거 © 장형임 기자 |
Ganghwa-gun (Governor Park Yong-cheol) announced that it took the top award in the local-government content category after taking part in the ’11th Korea International Travel Show (KITS),’ held from July 3 to 5 at KINTEX in Ilsan.
The achievement marks a second straight year of recognition, following last year’s Excellence Award. Earning a high evaluation two years in a row at an event where countless local governments compete over tourism content shows that Ganghwa-gun’s tourism-planning capability is being steadily built up, rather than amounting to a one-off promotional push.
At this year’s expo, Ganghwa-gun put forward ‘stay-and-experience tourism’ — getting away from the daily rush to linger and enjoy — as its core content. The idea is to move beyond fleeting day trips by lengthening the time visitors spend in the region, raising their satisfaction and encouraging spending that flows into the local economy. In particular, the county drew the attention of tourists and industry officials by focusing its promotion on wellness tourism products that link Ganghwa’s distinctive natural, historical and cultural resources.
The exhibition booth showcased a range of stay-and-experience tourism products, including leading attractions such as the Ganghwa Astronomical Science Museum, Hwagae Garden and the Ganghwa Peace Observatory, as well as the ‘Manisan Healing Forest’ program for restoring body and mind, the ‘Wellness Ganghwa’ program for lingering and enjoying, and the ‘DMZ Theme Route’ program imbued with historical significance.
Interactive programs inviting visitors to take part directly were also run. The Ganghwa-gun promotional booth held events such as an SNS subscription event and a tourism-topper photo event to keep visitors engaged. The blend of local content reflecting the region’s character and participatory events drew a strong response on site.
 [코리안투데이] 강화군 대한민국 국제관광박람회 콘텐츠 부문 최우수상 쾌거 © 장형임 기자 |
For residents, the award is a sign that Ganghwa is establishing itself not as ‘a place you pass through once’ but as ‘a place to stay and rest for a few days.’ As stay-and-experience and wellness tourism spread, tourism demand flows into local commerce such as lodging, dining and hands-on experiences, offering tangible benefits to residents’ lives and the regional economy.
Ganghwa-gun Governor Park Yong-cheol said, “It is deeply meaningful to bear such precious fruit — the top award in the content category this year, following last year’s Excellence Award. We will continue to discover Ganghwa’s own distinctive tourism content and establish the county as a healing tourism city loved by all citizens.”
Inquiries can be directed to the Tourism Content Team of the Ganghwa-gun Tourism Division (032-930-3562).
지역 홍보대사 신청 기자양성과정 신청 코리안투데이 지부장 신청 코리안투데이 인천강화코리안브랜드대상 신청 최고경영인대상 신청 소비자만족도대상 신청
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